Blues break their derby drought, at last

The streak from hell is over. After more than three years, and 20 matches, of futility, the Blues finally have a victory over a Kiwi Super Rugby rival.

That dreadful winless run, which stretched back to round one of 2016 against the same Highlanders outfit on the same ground, was finally snapped at Eden Park last night as Leon MacDonald’s Blues – at long last – held their nerve to secure a 33-26 victory over the Highlanders.

The Blues’ last victory over a Kiwi rival had been on the opening round of 2016 when they rolled the Highlanders 33-31 in Tana Umaga’s first match as head coach.

This win lights the fuse on their 2019 campaign, their second victory of the season, taking them back into the race on 10 competition points.

The huge result was nailed by a 73rd-minute try to replacement Blues lock – and acting captain – Patrick Tuipulotu as he powered over from close after the home side had thrown the kitchen sink at the Highlanders who were clinging to a 26-23 lead at the time.

Rieko Ioane was once again the star of the show for the Blues with two quality tries to stud a busy night, but fullback Melani Nanai was not far behind him with an exhilarating display of open-field running. He scored one try and was a menace throughout with his mix of pace and footwork.

Blues loose forward Tom Robinson was the best of the home pack. He’s a rookie, this flame-haired Northlander, but you wouldn’t know it with the consistency, class and out-and-out workrate he has delivered throughout this campaign.

The Smiths, Ben and Aaron, were quality all night for the visitors, which set them apart from their All Black team-mate Waisake Naholo who had a night to forget, which went from bad to worse when he copped a late yellow card for a lift tackle on Robinson.

That big, abrasive Highlanders pack did what they do well, which is to say they scrummed like all heck and edged the physical contest, but it was not enough on a night when the Blues’ X-factor finally served up the result.

An entertaining first half had ended with the Blues leading 15-13 after running in two tries to one – both strikes coming from long range.

Both Blues scores went to inform wing Ioane, the All Black No 11 taking his tally to six for the season (all in the last two matches) with strikes in the 10th and 33rd minutes.

Ioane was the inspiration for his opening score, slicing through off a lineout win around halfway, gliding between Aaron Smith and Dillon Hunt as though they were wearing concrete boots, and then tying Naholo in knots as the dreadfully outgunned final line of defence.

For his second act the wing ran a beautiful support line to steam on to ball served up via a twinkle-toed Nanai break, leaving Liam Coltman and Ayden Johnstone for dead, and TJ Faiane’s excellent link run. It started, appropriately, off a turnover laid on by Akira Ioane.

The Highlanders did muster a try of their own – Luke Whitelock finishing a fearsome scrum pushover in the 18th minute – and did well to stay in the contest, courtesy of a three-for-three half by Marty Banks off the tee.

The visitors looked most threatening when the classy Ben Smith managed to breach with two dazzling runs from deep.

(Reiko Ioane 2, Melani Nanai, Patrick Tuipolotu tries; Harry Plummer 2 pen, con, Otere Black pen con) (Luke Whitelock, Tevita Li tries; Marty Banks 4 pen, 2 con). HT: 15-13.

Blues 33

Highlanders 26